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MilkerWhen I was diagnosed HIV positive in 1989, every one of my doctors told me to keep smoking because I was so stressed out that I needed the smoking to calm me down. Plus, they believed that I had only two to four years to live. Things being somewhat different now, means that you probably need to quit soon. It just makes you healthier. I dont think any miracle happens when you quit smoking, but it may help your overall health. But listen, I smoked for 40 years and am still here to say...I quit.....(again).Upate on the meds.....I have decided that I dont like Wellbutrin. After 6 months on the stuff my sleep patterns were disrupted. I needed an Ativan to sleep. So I took myself off the Wellbutrin and am going to try Chantrix.

I tried the patch (worked okay for 2 weeks with a bit of skin rash, then after 2 weeks no effect)the gum: 1/2 day it was disgustingthe welbutrin: absolutely no effectthe lozange: best one but too strong, i had to remove it, take it back, remove it, take it back or my mouth was on fire

On the contrary i've been smoking like crazy for the last month, and no sign of being able to reduce, so that's why I wanted to try the new thing right now.

Actually, the chantix does work. Until I had that bad news where my counts went all haywire I was on it for about 3 weeks and down to maybe 4/5 cigarettes a day.

Stress peak kicked in and I caved. Now that I've been on meds for about a month with Zero side effects I am considering the chantix again.

I wanted to see what my counts turn out without any other meds or changes first so maybe I'll give it a whirl again. If your insurance covers it and you want to quit I think Chantix is likely the best option. I didn't have any odd side effects w/ it either.

Anyways, since once again another topic was locked I thought I'd share some useful information for anyone trying to quit.

Milker: some reinforcement in link below. I quit sucessfully using the Chantix. I miss smoking sometimes. Nevermind that my lungs are clear, sense of taste & smell acute, and have a lift in energy level. When I read the linked article I knew I could not go back to smoking habit. Pssst,...........I did smoke one a couple of days ago and it was devilishly enjoyable. The second one sucked though. Same old tired, dull habit by the second cigarette. <sigh>

Nicotine addiction is insidious. Even after 12 years of not smoking that rotten bugger still chased me until I caved in one day during the split with my partner of 10 years.

I’ve made several attempts to quit over the years since I fell again for the false god nicotine – and will try again – but no nicotine replacements or pills work for me. The anguish of sheer will power is the only thing that worked for me.

Now that dental health problems are in the picture (which smoking isn’t helping), I’m hoping that will be the kick in the pants I need to work at quitting again. This Chantrix thing does sound intriguing tho. I’ll have to investigate.

It's on my top priority list and I have an appointment in May with my ID Doctor to discuss this. I'm really tired of smoking, I'm at 2 packs / day and I can't see an end to it. So since i'm seriously in the mood for change, I hope this will work.

Well, I'm still taking the Chantix. I have another three weeks worth, I think.

So far, so good. I do miss smoking. I don't crave it, I miss it. But, what the hell, I can eat bacon now without feeling quite so guilty.

Oh, by the way, I gained nine pounds initially, then stopped. No further gain, no loss, just sitting here at 168 pounds.

One positive note (pardon the expression), while bowling several people commented on how nice my behind was looking since I had gained a few pounds. (Uh huh, these guys are straight all right. Sure. Gotcha.

It's on my top priority list and I have an appointment in May with my ID Doctor to discuss this. I'm really tired of smoking, I'm at 2 packs / day and I can't see an end to it. So since i'm seriously in the mood for change, I hope this will work.

Wesley, sorry to hear about your counts, probably just a mistake. did you stop the chantix? I seen my new ID doctor on tues and my chantix arrived at my door yesterday, so im starting mine today. I hope everything is going good

I now believe it was a mistake with my counts, especially the jump up a week later which was consistent. The whole ordeal did stress me out so I resorted to smoking like a chimney during that time.

I started meds about a month ago so once I see improvement I'lll probably resume the Chantix program ; ) I've tried most of the other things in the past and none was quite as effective; however, I think my timing was bad.

I think it is best to try to quit something like smoking when things are more settled and calm. You had a real scare and now that things are becoming more stable, you can then think about other things to take on.

i see your numbers have improved so i Just wanted to see how your doing on the smoking? I am on my second week of chantix and have gone 5 days without any cigarettes, i still have some cravings for one but i dont have to have one.

To be perfectly honest after my numbers took a sudden unexplained dive and with all the other stuff I've been dealing with I probably smoked twice as much.

Having heard nothing but horror stories about the meds I was fairly convinced I was doomed despite the fact that most of my personal friends insisted I was gona be fine.

So, I was all prepared for the worst, smoking away and eating everything in site. Then, after a big horay for nothing I gained 10lbs or so and smoked like a chimney waiting for all the horrible effects of the meds to kick in.

Leave it to me to pick the worst time ever to try and quit smoking ; )

Anyways, I still have the prescription and was thinking I would go ahead and give it a whirl again; however, first I want to lop off those 10lbs first.

So, yeah I was a complete and total failure and gave up. My spirit is renewed and soon as I lop off those extra lbs I'll give it a whirl again!

Congrats Ron and your progress thus far! I still think Chantix is the best option I've tried and for those who are truly ready definitely worth trying!

I am ready to give up the cigs but Chantix is not available here only Wellbutrin. The instructions are not in English...can anybody tell me what dosage was prescribed by their doctor? Do you suggest a nictoine patch as well?

I gave up for 2 months in my first year being HIV+ but it was just too many big changes all at the same time and I swear the stress of quitting showed in my plummeting test results. Things are now stable CD4 700+ and VL 16000 32%.

Tried Wellbutrin aka Zyban a few years ago, didn't really worked for me 'cos my mind wasn't really set on quitting then.....more like an experiment to satisfy my own curiosity on how it works.

Took 1 tablet (150 mg) a day for 2 days then, 1 tablet twice daily.Had horrible dry mouth and insomnia, it did remove my nicotine cravings and altered the taste of tobacco (I could only take a maximum of 3 puffs before having to put out the cig in disgust every time while on it). Had to give it up due to the insomnia.

The nicotine patch gave me some skin irritations. Do not try smoking while on the patch like I did, almost OD'd on nicotine not fun seriously.........

The problem with wellbutrin/zyban is that its an anti-depressant. I was so depressed once I stopped taking it, that I resumed smoking! I'm talking life has no meaning, I want to die type depression. Find the chantix - order online? Its been almost 4 months for me and nary a problem! No smoking and I'm happy!

I quit for 2 months last year but when I hit a patch of emotional stress I just had to have one and then two... and you know the rest! But given what you said it might have been made worse by withdrawal from wellbutrin. The reponses to Chantix above have been quite overwhelmingly positive, so I think you're right it might be worth ordering online and trying Chantix instead.